Page:Voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world in the years 1791-95, volume 2.djvu/385

Rh '791- Auguil. from the weflern fhore of the inlet, in latitude 55° 29', longitude 229" 15'. Its furface is uneven, and its diameter regularly decreafes to a few feet at its apex, which is nearly flat, and feemcd to be in e'ery dire6lion perpendicular to the center of its bale; its height, by a rude meafure- ment, was found to be upwards of two hundred and fifty feet. The fiflures and fmall chafms in its fides, quite up to its fummit, afforded nourifh- raent to fome fmall pine trees and various fhrubs. The fouth and eaftern part of its bafe is an intire bed of fand ; to the n(5rth, about two hun- dred yards from it, extended a ledge of rocks, that ftretchcd a fmall dif- tance, and was vifible only at low tide, beyond wluch the bottom was unfathomable with our lines. The natives attended us for a fliort time, but finding that our courfe was not dire6led towards their habitations, they retired ; after having given us to underftand by figns, that at night we (liould find the inlet clofed on all fides, that we fliould fleep at its termination, and requefted that on our return we would vifit their habitations. We foon arrived at the point that had in appearance formed an open- ing in the eafl:ern fhore, and found that our conje6liues had been well founded ; it being the fouth point of a branch, in general about three quarters of a mile wide, irregularly extending n. 53 e. 2 leagues, with a cove on the fouthern fiiore, and forming at the above extent two other coves; one in a direftion s. 24 e., two miles and a half long, the other north, two miles long, terminating in latitude 55° 37-^', longitude 229° 29'. The examination of this infignificant branch, winding between an immenfe body of high, barren, fnowy mountains, occupied the remain- der of the day. About ten at night we reached the main inlet, and took up our abode until the next morning, at a point on the continental Saturday lo, fiiore. The weather being again fair and pleafant, we early direfted our way •along the continental fliore, which was nearly ftraight and compaft, and trending about n. 5 w. About our time of breakfaft, we arrived at the fouth point of another of thofe arms, about half a mile wide, which had hitherto employed the major part of our time to fo little purpofe. Vol. II. Zz Our III P?---;'.: I:- ^^:^ > . "1